Atomic‐Scale Magnetic Properties of Truly 3<i>d</i>‐Diluted ZnO

Abstract

In search for dilute magnetic semiconductors, the magnetic properties at the atomic‐scale of Fe atoms incorporated in ZnO, in a concentration range of more than five orders of magnitude from 1 × 10 −5 to 2.2 at% have been probed using emission 57 Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy on implanted 57 Mn and 57 Co produced at ISOLDE/CERN. In the ultra‐dilute regime (10 −5 at%), the system shows isolated paramagnetic Fe 3+ ions with a spin–lattice type of relaxation. At higher concentrations (between 0.02 and 0.2 at%) a transition to spin–spin type of relaxation between neighboring Fe 3+ is observed, without any signature of magnetic ordering up to 2.2 at%. Despite the many reports of dilute magnetism in 3 d ‐doped ZnO, this atomic level study shows no evidence of any long‐range magnetic ordering between isolated Fe atoms incorporated in the ZnO lattice.